Processing system for rayon and the like



Sept. 22, 1936. Q UHL 2,055,323

PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR RAYON AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 18, 19:54

Inven'B om Harw q ClUhl,

b Wan/ 75.

His Ac-bovneq.

Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROCESSING SYSTEM FOR RAYON AND THE LIKE Application December 18, 1934, Serial No. 758,149

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to processing systems for rayon and the like and has for its object the provision of an improved arrangement for automatically subjecting rayon or like fibrous material to several steps of a process whereby the various steps are carried out automatically in their proper sequence during predetermined periods of time.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following description and the claim appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing I have shown, by way of example, in Fig. 1 an automatic control arrangement as may be used for processing rayon cakes in accordance with my invention, and in Fig. 2 a modification of a part of the arrangement of Fig. 1.

The particular process itself to which the rayon cakes are subjected comprises the following steps:

1. Preliminary washing of the rayon cakes;

2. Desulphurizing of the rayon cakes;

3. Final washing of the cakes; and

4. Wringing the cakes.

The process is preferably carried out while the rayon cakes are rotated at high speed in buckets having perforated walls. Each step or treatment is carried out during a definite time period, for 30 example, in a certain case the rayon cakes are subjected to a preliminary washing treatment for 5 minutes, a desulphurizing treatment for 27 minutes, a final washing for 7 minutes, and a wringing period for about 1 minute. As stated before, the treatment is performed preferably while the cakes are rotated in buckets. These buckets are driven by motors. At the beginning of the operation the motors have to be accelerated and at the end of the operation the motors have 40 to be plugged. The acceleration of the motors may take about seconds and the plugging or stopping may take about seconds.

The arrangement according to my invention is entirely automatic. All the operator has to do is to press a push button to initiate the above mentioned cycle of treatments or steps and at the end of the cycle to replace the treated rayon cakes by other cakes to be treated. The end of the cycle is indicated by a telltale lamp which also indicates the readiness of the apparatus for a new cycle.

The arrangement as shown in the drawing comprises a container l8 forming a plurality of chambers ii. A bucket i2 for receiving a rayon cake iii to be treated is disposed in each chamber. Each bucket is driven by a motor l4 connected through a line l5, a line or forward contactor l6 and a plugging or reverse contactor I! to a source of electric energy I8. Liquids or like agents, in the present instance water and a desulphurizing agent or liquid, are conducted to the buckets l2 through nozzles !9 receiving the agents from a conduit 20 which is connected through a connection 2! to another conduit having a conduit portion or branch 22 with an auto- 5 matically operated valve 23 connected to a source of desulphurizing liquid, and another portion or branch 24 having a valve 25 connected to a suitable source of water. By an automatically operated valve I mean a valve operated by a "10 solenoid, a motor, or a thrustor. Both valves 23 and 25 are normally closed. Opening of the valve 23 causes desulphurizing liquid or agent to be sprayed into the buckets I2 through the nozzle l9, and opening of the valve 25 causes water to be sprayed into the buckets 12. During the operation these agents, in the present instance water and desulphurizing liquid, penetrate the cakes or rayon i 3 by the action of centrifugal force and are discharged therefrom through perforations in the buckets into the chambers I l of the container H3. The liquids are discharged from said chambers through pipes 25 connected to a conduit 21 having branches 28 and 29, each of these branches including in the present instance a valve 36 and 3! respectively. The purpose of this arrangement is to permit the separate collecting of discharged water and desulphurizing liquid whereby the latter may be regained. The arrangement is such that both valves 23 and 36 for controlling the supply and the discharge respectively of desulphurizing liquid are opened and closed simultaneously. This is accomplished by the provision of automatic means such as motors, thrustors or solenoids 32 and 33 connected in parallel for operating the valves 23 and respectively. Similarly, parallel connected motors, thrustors, or solenoids 34 and 35 are provided for simultaneously opening and closing the valves 25 and 3! for supplying and discharging respectively of water.

At the beginning of each cycle of operation the nozzles l9 together with the cover of the tank or container l9 and the conduit 29 are lifted by a hoist or the like, not shown, to permit the removal of the treated cakes and the placing of cakes to be treated in the buckets.

The lifting of the nozzles l9 and of the conduit 22 may be eliminated by an arrangement as indicated in the modification of Fig. 2 in which water and desulphurizing agent or the like are conducted to a bucket 35 driven by a motor 37 through a bore 38 in the motor shaft. In an arrangement of this kind, replacing of cakes in the bucket 36 is accomplished by removing a cover 39 of the container for the bucket.

Referring again to Fig. l, the operation of the arrangement described above comprises the following steps:

1. Starting and accelerating the motors I4.

2. Opening the water supply and discharge valves 25 and 3| for a predetermined period of time to effect preliminary washing of the cakes;

3. Opening the valves 23 and 38 for a predetermined period of time to efiect desulphurizing of the cakes;

4. Opening again the valves 25 and 3| to eifect final washing for a predetermined period of time;

5. Wringing the cakes, that is, driving the buckets for another definite period of time to eifect drying of the cakes; and finally 6. Plugging the motors to bring them to a quick stop. a

As stated in the beginning, all these steps are carried out entirely automatically. The apparatus for doing this comprises in addition to the aforementioned elements a push button 49, a safety stop switch 4| having contacts 42 and 43, a line contactor relay 44 having contacts 45, a plugging contactor relay 46 having contacts 41, a bridging time delay relay 48, a plugging time delay relay 49, a pilot motor contactor 59, a thermal relay 5|, a pilot motor 52 for driving through a gearing 53, a drum contactor 54 and various other relays and interlocking and holding contacts which will be described hereinafter.

The arrangement. will best be understood by considering its operation. As stated above, the motors are supplied with energy from a source I8. All other devices are connectedto a source 55 through a switch 56 and means including line conductors 57, 58, and 59. Closing of the switch 56 causes lighting up of a telltale lamp '99, the

. circuit of which can be traced from the line conductor 58 through a conductor 6|, a resistor 82, a pair of contacts 63 closed by the plugging contactor il, a pair of contacts 64 closed by the line contactor l8 and a conductor 65 to the line conductor 59. Lighting up of the telltale lamp 68 indicates the availability of power for the control circuit and that the apparatus is in a position ready for operation. The only manipulation to be performed thereafter by the operator, aside from placing cakes into the buckets, is the pressing of the start push button 49. Closing of the push button 49 effects energization and closing of the forward contactor relay 44. Its circuit may be traced from the line conductor 58 to conductor 5|, the push button 48, the coil of the relay 44, a conductor 66, contacts 61 of a relay 68, a conductor 69, a conductor 18, contacts 1| of the thermal relay 5| for the pilot motor 52, a conductor 12, contacts 42 of the safety stop push button 4| and a conductor l3, back to the other line conductor 59 of the line. As will be readily seen, the circuit 44 is interrupted when the safety push buttons 42' are opened or when the relay 88 or the thermal relay 5| opens. The thermal relay 5| is normally closed and opens only in case an excessive current is drawn by the pilot motor 52 for driving the drum contactor 54. The kind of thermal relay 5! used in the present instance is well known in the art. It includes a bimetallic strip 14 exposed to the heat produced by two resistors 15 and 76 connected in two phases respectively of the pilot motor 52.

Energization of the coil for forward contactor relay-44 causes closing of the contacts 45 and thus establishes a circuit for an operating coil E1 of the forward or line contactor IS. The circuit for the coil El may be traced from the line conductor 59 through the conductor 73, contacts 45, a conductor E8, the coil H, a conductor 19 and finally the conductor 6| back to the other line conductor 59. Energization of the coil T! of the line conworm 93.

tactor causes closing of the latter, establishing a circuit for the motors i4 driving the buckets. The latter receive energy, as stated before, from a source i8 through the conductors I5. The source l8 may be the same as the source 55 or a 'dilferent source may be used. The line contactor H3 has interlocks or contacts 89, 8|, and 82 which are closed as the contactor is closed, and the aforementioned contacts 54 and interlocks 83, both of which are opened as the contactor closes.

The interlocklor interlocks 89 bridge the contacts of the start push button 49, thereby holding the circuit for forward contactor relay 44 closed as the start push button 49 is opened or released. The forward contactor relay 44 in. turn holds the line contactor i6 closed as described above.

Closing of the interlock 82 establishes a circuit for a coil 84 of the pilot motor contactor 50, which latter thereby closes. The circuit for the coil 84 may be traced from the line conductor 58 through the coil 84, a conductor 85, the interlock 82 and the conductor 13 to the other line conductor 59. Starting of the pilot motor 52 causes rotation of the drum contactor 54, thus initiating the first step of processing the rayon cakes.

The closing of the forward contactor 44 simultaneously causes energization and operation of the bridging time delay relay 48. The kind of time delay relay diagrammatically indicated in the drawing is well known in the art. Its purpose is to. open or close a circuit after the lapse of a predetermined period of time. Its essential parts are a small synchronous motor 86, a solenoid 87 surrounding a magnetic plunger 88, three contacts 89 which are electrically connected by levers or contact-making members, a contact 99 cooperating With one of the contacts 89 and contacts 9| and 92 cooperating with the others of the three contacts 89. Furthermore, the relay includes a worm 93 and a time disk 94 having a pin 95, and a latch mechanism including a lever 95. With the coil of the line contactor relay 44 closed, a circuit for the synchronous motor 86 of the bridging time delay relay 48 may be traced from the line conductor 58 through the conductor 6| the start push button 40, a conductor 91, or in case the push button is already open, through a conductor I09, contact 89, a conductor I98, to the conductor 91, the motor 86, a conductor 98, the contacts 99, 89, the conductor 19, the contacts H of the thermal relay 5|, the conductor 12, the contacts 42, back through the conductor 13 to the other line conductor 59. The solenoid 87 is simultaneously energized with the motor because it is connected to the latter in parallel, its circuit including a conductor 99, a conductor [99 and the conductor 10. The essential difierence between the circuits for the synchronous motor 88 and the solenoid 87 is that the circuit for the motor includes the contacts 89, 99 so that opening of the latter deenergizes the motor but does not deenergize the solenoid. During operation of the bridging time delay relay 48, energization of the solenoid 81 causes engagement of the contacts 89 and 92 and simultaneously engagement between the timing gear 49 and the Rotation of the timing gear 94 then effects after a definite period of time engagementbetween the pin 95 of thetiming gear and the lever 96, causing the latter to unlatch and thereby effecting opening of the contacts 89, 99, resulting indeenergization of the motor 86, and closing of the contacts 89, 9|, and 92. of the contacts 89, 92, of the bridging time delay Closing I sequence relay IOI includes contacts 92.

relay 48 effects energization of a sequence relay IOI, which latter then closes its contacts I02 and I03. The circuit for the coil of the sequence relay IOI may be traced from the line conductor 58, through the conductor 6|, a conductor I04, the contacts 43 of the safety stop push button II, the coil of the sequence relay IOI, a conductor I05, the contacts 92, 89, the conductor I0, the contacts I I, the conductor I2, the contacts 42 of the safety stop push button and finally the line I3 back to the other line conductor 59.

Closing of the contacts 89, 9| of the bridging time delay relay causes energization of the coil for the bridging relay 68, which latter then opens the contacts 61. The circuit for the coil of the bridging relay 68 may be traced from the line conductor 59 through the conductor I3, the contacts 42 of the safety stop push button, the conductor I2, the contacts H, the conductor I0, the contacts 89, 9|, a conductor I06, the coil of the bridging relay 68, the conductor I 01, the conductor 91, a conductor I08, interlock 80, a conductor I09, and through conductor 6| back to the other line conductor 58.

The bridging relay 68 when closed bridges two contacts H and HI of the drum contactor 54. As the contacts 51 of the bridging relay 68 were included in the circuit for the coil of the line contactor relay 44, the current in this circuit after opening of the contact 61 is forced through the contacts III and H0 of the drum contactor. Hence, the new circuit established for the line contactor relay 44 may be traced from the line conductor 58 through the conductor the conductor I09, the interlock 80, the conductor I08, the conductor 91, the coil of the relay 44, the conductor 66, the drum contacts III and H0, a conductor II5, the conductor 69, the conductor I0, the contacts II, the conductor I2, the contacts 42 and finally through conductor I3 to the other line conductor 59.

As stated above, the circuit for the coil of the This circuit, however, is sealed by a holding circuit including the contacts I02 of the sequence relay, thus holding the sequence relay closed after opening of the contacts 92 as long as control power is on or until the safety push button or emergency selector switch M is turned to safe stop position. Operation of the thermal overload relay 5I would also deenergize the coil of the sequence relay IOI.

Assuming that the motors I4 for driving the buckets were started while the drum contactor 54 was in starting position, then after the lapse of about seconds, which are allowed for speeding up of the motors I4, the drum contactor 54 is rotated an amount sufiicient to cause operation of the water valves, thus starting the preliminary washing period which, as pointed out above, may last about 5 minutes. This is accomplished by a relay II2 for closing the circuit of the solenoids, motors or thrustors 34 and 35 of the water control valves and 3I. The coil of the relay H2 is energized through a contact H3 and a finger II4 on the drum contactor 54. The circuit for the operating coil of the relay II2 may be traced from the line conductor 59 through the conductor I3, the contacts 42 of the safety stop push button, the conductor I2, the contacts ll of the thermal relay 5I, the conductor iii, the conductor 69, the conductor II5, the main contact IIO of the drum contactor 54, the contact M3, the finger II4, the coil of the relay II2, a conductor N6, the interlock ill, the conductor I09 and finally through the conductor BI to the other line conductor 58. It is here noted that the drum contactor in addition to the aforementioned contacts also includes two other contacts Ill and H8, the first being in alinement with the finger I I4 and the second being in alinement with a finger II9. All of the contacts on the drum contactor are electrically connected by a connection I20. Closing of the relay II2 causes energization of the solenoid, motor, or thruster-operated water valves. The circuit for the latter may be traced from the line conductor 59 through the conductor I3, the contacts of the relay II2, the coil 34 of the water supply valve 25, the conductor I09, and finally through the conductor GI to the other line conductor 58. The operating coil 35 for the water discharge valve 3| is connected in parallel to the coil 34 of the solenoid, motor or thrustor-operated valve 25 by conductors I2I and I22. At the end of the preliminary washing period the relay H2 is deenergized, the contact II3 of the drum contactor 54 leaving the finger II4, causing opening of the relay II2 and accordingly deenergizing and closing of the solenoid, motor, or thrustor-operated valves 25 and 3! for supplying water to the buckets and discharging the water from the container I0 respectively.

At the end of the preliminary washing period the desulphurizing period is initiated by engagement of the drum contactor finger II9 with the contact I I8. This closes the circuit of the operating coil of a relay I23. The circuit for this coil may be traced similarly to the circuit of the coil for the relay I I2. As can be readily seen in the drawing, one end of each coil is connected to the conductor H6, the other end of the coil I23 is connected to the finger II9, whereas the other end of the coil H2 is connected to the finger I I4 of the drum contactor 54. The relay I23 with its operating coil energized closes the circuit of the solenoid, motor, or thrustor-operated valves 23 and for controlling the supply of desulphurizing liquid to the buckets and the discharge of desulphurizing liquid from the container I0. The circuit for the solenoid, motor, or thruster-operated valves 23 and 30 may be traced similarly to the tracing of the circuits for the solenoid operated water control valves 25 and 3I. One end of the four solenoids is connected to the conductor I22 and the other ends of the solenoids, motors, or thrustors 34 and are connected to the contacts of the relay II2, whereas the two other ends of the solenoids, motors, or thrustors 32 and 33 are connected to the contacts of the relay I23.

Desulphurizing liquid or agent is conducted to the buckets and discharged from the tank or container I0 as long as the finger I I9 of the drum contactor 54 is in engagement with the contact I I8, the desulphurizing period in the present instance lasting about 27 minues. At the end of this period the valves 23 and 30 are closed. The final washing period then begins. The finger I I 4 engages the contact II! of the drum contactor, thereby closing the circuit of the operating coil of the relay II2, which in turn closes the circuit of the solenoids, motors or thrustors 34 and 35. The final washing period lasts about 7 minutes, ending as the contact II I leaves the finger II4 of the drum contactor 54.

At the end of the final washing period the motors I4 continue running for about 1 minute to wring the rayon cakes in the buckets, that is, causing drying thereof.

tactor I1.

At the end of the wringing or drying period thedriimco'ntactor has reached the end of the cycle and causes breaking of thecircuit of the line contactor relay 44. The Circuit of the latter, asstated above, includes the segments III, and llfl'ofthedrum contactor 54. As the segment III leaves its finger it opens the circuit of the line contactor relay 44; causing the relay to open contacts 45. Opening of contacts causes deenergizing of the operating coil TI of the line contactor I6 whereby the latter opens. This causes, simultaneously, opening of the interlock 82 which is in thecircuit of theoperating coil 84 for. the pilot motor contactor 59 The'circuit for coil84. being opened causes deenergization of the operating coil 84 and accordingly opening of the pilot motor contactor 5B. The pilot motor 52 then stops. Openingof the line contactor I6 also causes closing of the interlock 83. This completes the circuit for the plugging time delay relay 49. The relay 49 is substantially similar to the relay 4 8. Its circuit may be traced from the line ccnductor 59 through the conductor I3, the interlock 83, a'conductor I23, the contacts I03 of the sequence relay IIJI, contacts I25, I29 a conductor I21, a conductor I 28, a synchronous motor I29 corresponding to the motor 86 of the bridging time delay relay 48, a conductor I39, andfinally through a conductor I3I and the conductor 6| to the other line conductor 58. A solenoid I32 of the plugging time delay relay, similar to the solenoid Bl of the bridging time delay relay, is connected in parallel to the motor I29. One end of the solenoid I32 is coni, nected-to the conductor I3I and the other end is connected to the conductor I24. The two circuits for the motor I29 and the solenoid I32 difier only by the fact that the circuit for the motor includes contacts I25 and I25. Opening of these contacts causes stopping of the motor I29 without affecting the operation of the solenoid I32. Simultaneously with the energization and the beginning of the operation of the plugging time delay relay 49 the reverse or plugging contactor relay 46 is closed and effects closing of the reverse or plugging contactor H. The circuit for the plugging contactor relay may be traced from the line conductor 58 through the conductor 65, the coil of the relay 45, the conductor I23, the contacts I25, I25, the conductor I24, the contacts I63, the interlock 83, and finally through the conductor T3 to the other li e conductor 59.. Energization of the operating coil of the relay 46 causes the closingof the contacts ill, which latter then close the circuit of an operating coil I33 of the plugging con- The circuit of the coil 33 may be traced from the line conductor 59 through the conductor I3, the contacts 4'1, the operating coil I33, the conductor I9 and through the conductor 6| 'to the other line conductor 58; Energization of the operating coil I 33 causes closing ofthe plu ging contactor I'I, thereby energizing the motors [4 for reverse direction of rotation, thus bringing the motors I4 to'a quick stop. This operation continues until the circuit for the plugging contactor relay 46 is opened. This opening is effected after a predetermined period of time which may be 15 secon ds and is accomplished by the plugging time delay relay 49. 'The latter includes a timing gear I34 having a pin I35.

lamp 69, whichllatterlights up, indicating the end of the complete cycle and the readiness of the arrangement or system "fonanother cycle. The system remains at rest with control power available as indicated by the lamp 69' until the operator has removedthe treated rayon cakes from the buckets I2 and placed other cakes into again pushthe buckets to start a new cycle by ing the start push button 40.

"'At anytime during the time that the drum contactor is operating, i. e., from starting until plugging operation starts, the cycle may be ing it to safe-stop position from the run position at which time the equipment is stopped and the telltale light 69 will burn. When this selector switch @I is moved from safe-stop position to run position the start push button station {19 may be again operated to start the equipment at the point in the cycle where interrupted. This arrangement is used so that if it is necessary for any reason to remove any cakes, the remaining cakes may be processed in the proper time cycle.

' With my invention I have accomplished an improved system and arrangement for automatically carrying out the various steps of a process 2.0 stopped by operating the selecto'rswitch l I, 'movto which materials such as rayon cakes in the course of their manufacture are to be subjected.

The period of time of the different steps may be easily varied by changing the lengths of the contacts on the drum contactor and the number of the dififerent steps may be varied by varying the number of contacts on the drum contactor. The arrangement may be manufactured at comparatively low cost as all the devices used are standard articles of manufacture.

Having described the method of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the' best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

Ina processing system for subjecting rayon cakes to a succession of 'steps,'the combination of 'a drive motor, means including an electric circuit for the motor comprising a line contactor and a plugging contactor for operating the motor and plugging it, means including an electric circuit with a drum contactor and'relays for automatically opening and closing, in succession a plurality of valves after the line contactor is closed and the motor has reached a certain speed, a pilot motor for driving the drum contactor, and a circuit for the pilot motor including a contactor and time delay relay means having an interlock associated with said line ,a predetermined period of time from the start.

HARRY C. UHL. 

